I Wanted to Hate Hybrid Athletes. I Really Did.
Hybrid athlete training is hyped-up online, but I was skeptical it could work. Would learning more change my mind?
This article was originally published in November 2023. So-called 'hybrid athletes' continue to be influential in fitness circles—just look at the rise of Hyrox and running—so we're revisiting this exploration of the term's origins and how it became one of the dominant trends in fitness over the past few years.
I LOVE A CHALLENGE. That's why in 2022, I ran the New York City marathon—while simultaneously training for a 500-pound deadlift. I piled up mileage that November and got into the minutiae of hydration and nutrition gel strategy. I'd barely missed a 500-pound attempt a month before the run and felt like I was on track to nail that shortly afterward. I was also convinced I would slay my marathon goal time of 3:05—and possibly run even faster.